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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - May 20, 1992 (74)CITY OF LODI AGENDA TITLE: loOi Avenue Improvements - California Traction Company Involvement MEETING DATE: May 20, 1392 PREPARED BY: Public Works Director RECOMENDED ACTION: Discussion and appropriate direction. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The City's Street Capital Improvement Program has identified the need for improvements on Lodi Avenue, from Main Street to Cherokee Lane, for a number of years. The budget estimate of $275,000 includes 'anasphalt concrete overlay with fabric. pavement edge grinding and installation o.f handicap ramps. Not included, although needed, are drainaGp improvements at the intersection of Lodi Avenue and Main Street. This will be evaluated and an additional appropriation requested before the project is designed. Staff has also studied the signalized intprsections for possible additfon of left -turn lanes/phases, which is discussed later in this report. The major stumbling block in the project has been the presence of the Central California Traction Company (CCT) tracks which run the entire length of the project. These tracks have settled in many places and unless they are straightened and rafsed. the overlay project is not possible. These tracks were installed in the existing road in the early 1900'sunder the terms of a county franchise. That franchise was for a 90-yflir term. Since the city was tnc,�rporated, there have been a number of City Council approvals of modifications to the tracks. such as a 1931 ordinance (No. 185) approving a spur between Main and Stockton streets. This ordinance had no term and requires the CCT to maintaln the tracks to the City's approval. Other modifications, such as a 1557 agreement regarding some track abandonment. acknowledged the county franchise but made no mention of extending the 50 -year 1915 franchise. The Lodi Avenue tracks provide rail service to the packing houses an& cannery located south of Lodi Avenue along Main Street. The cannery is by far the largest user and although rail service is available from Southern Pacific, they prefer CCT due to better rates and quality of service. The CCT also provides the only rail service to Lodi's industrial area east of Highway 99. City staff and CCT representatives, including their three owners, melt in September 1988 to review the condition of the street and discuss the project. The railroad felt the condition of their tracks was not hazardous and were not interested in a joint project. The question of the franchise was discussed and the railroad was to check its records. They have not produced any documents indicating the franchise had been extended. APPROVED THOMAS A PETERSON Cny Manager CL00tAVE/TXTW,02M May 7, 1992 Lodi Avenue Improvements - California Traction Company Involvement May 20, 1992 Page 2 The project and problems with the tracks were reviewed with the City Council at its shirtsleeve meeting on October 29, 1991. Staff was directed to continue discussiohs with the CCT. On December 6. 1991. City staff met with California Public Utilities Commission staff and representatives from the CCT and their owners. The railroad agreed work was needed and asked that the City pay for the paving. VM indicated that would probably be OK with the Council ifthe work was done in a timely manner in conjunction with the street project as was done on Lockeford Street with the SPRR a few years ago. The railroad agreed to prepare an estimate for rehabilitating the tracks. On February 18. 1992, the CCT provided the City with their estimate of 5218,000 to replace the ties, ballast and rails from Cherokee Lane to Stockton Street. They would be able to do the work this summer ifthe City agreed to pay the J218.000. If not. they need approval from their owners which they have not yet received. The estimate assumed the work would be done along with a City project and nc paving or traffic control by the CCT would be needed. It also assumed the tracks west of Stockton Street could be reset to grade without major replacement since the ties i n that area are relatively new. The estimate included a fabric under the ballast and wood ties.. City staff estimates that for an additional $10,000, concrete ties, which provide longer life. could be used between Cherokee Lane and Ctockton Street. Replacing the track west of Stockton Street could add an addiVortal 5110,000 due to the switch that i s located west of Stockton Street. Related Issues Lodi Avenue/SPRR Underpass - This project i s eligible for Measure K funding and, in the preliminary Strateqic Plan. has a fairly high ranking. However. lack of project readiness and matching funding will reduce its chances for Measure K funding early in the program Tii : Psk-nro- of the CCT tracks complicates the pr(Ject and adds to the cost. Future of CCT - The CCT main line, which runs from Stockton to Sacs amento, is being considered by Sacramento County anv San Joaquin County as a possible future transit ra i I corridor. This possibility was discussed in the 1991 freight ra i I consolidation study between Stockton and Sacramento. However, this is a very long-term, "future" project. In the near term, the CCT i s not planning any long-term improvements. They have difficulty obtaining funding from their parent companies for any capital improvements. Future of SPRR Kentucky House Branch - This branch, which runs easterly fror.= the SPRR main I in e along Lockeford Street, i s not active and has been submitter to the Interstate Commerce Commission for abandonment. City and railroad staff dis.-ussed using this track in place of the line in Lodi Avenue (see Exhibit A). The CL i- noted two major problems with this: 1) The high cost of a neer switch at the CCT/SPRR crossing, and CL001AVE/TKTW.02M Say 7, 1992 Lodi Avenue Improvements ' California Traction Company Involvement May 20, 1992 Page 3 2) The ongoinr, scheduling and cost problems in sharing the main line SP tracks through downtown Lodi. The SPRR has indicated this line would need substantial upgrading to be placed back into regular service. Options Unrortunately, the -City's options in proceeding with the street project are rather limited if we wish to do the work this year. W would pay the CCT to do the work or seek a court order forcing them to make the repairs by a certain date, say August 1. If they fail to comply, the City would do the work and attempt to obtain repayment through the courts. However. there is no guarantee that going through the courts will result in the street being fixed this year. Staff certainly does not recdmmend that the City just pay them for the work. Such payment was not required under the terms of the expired franchise and it would be an expensive precedent. Longer term options include continuing negotiations with CCT to repair the tracks or to relocate to the SPRR Kentucky House Branch. I the Council wishes to pursue the relocation. we should plan on hiring a conte• specializes i n railroad matters to objectively evaluata " )vements, costs and benefits. (Street funds, i.e., Gas Tax, would be uses to Bund this study.) Another long-term option mould be to simply order the removal of the tracks. This would force the railroads to take the City to court to defend their position or to negotiate a relocat ion. Unfortunately, this could also mean the demise of CCT as their own4rs may decide it is cheaper to disband the railroad and provide some of their service through the individual owners, which, i n Lodi. would be Southern Pacific Railroad. Recommendations Staff has no magic solution to the Lodi Avenue problem. W recommend that the City Council direct the CCT to repair the tracks from Cherokee Lane to Main Street and offer to participate by providing paving and traffic control in conjunction with the street rehabilitation project in August 1992. The City Attorney should be directed to plan appropriate legal action should the railroad not comply. This w i I I likely mean the project will not occur until 1993. For the long term. we recommend: That if the Council wishts the relationship with the CCT railroad to continue, then a new franchise agreement be entered into between the City and the CCT, clearly spelling out the obligations involved. 2) That the City send a letter to the railroads and appro .-iAte agencies requesting that the CCT right-of-way and SP Kentucky House Branch right-of-way be preserved for future City and/or State transportation use. CLODIAVE/TXTw.02N ¢lay 7, 1992 I— Lodi Avenue Improvements - California Traction Company Involvement May 20, 1992 Page 4 3) That the City Cruncil decide on whether or not the City should proceed with preliminary engineering on the Lodi Avenue underpass. FUNDING: None at this time. Ll� Jack Ronska ubli Works Director Prepared by Richard C. Prima, Jr.. Assistant City Engineer JLR/RCP/lm Attachment cc: Assistant City Engineer Senior Civil Engineer Street Super°ntendent Murry M4e1' ish, CCT Howard Menking, CCT SPRR. Stockton (Harry Ballance) SPRR. San Francisco (Ken Dixon) SPRR, Sacramento (Joe Ivanusich) Union Pacific, Stockton (Trent Allen) AT & SF, Fresno (Darold Swallow) California Public Utilities Commission, Autar Chiina Pacific Coast Producers, Dennis Tanaka M & R Packing CLODIAVE/TXTW_02M May T, 1992 r 89 4 3 Bxh A coo o . flol u [till i 0 C} r r $kws W r*dCUMM. PHRI P A. RNMINO Ir pw Pro TNnpa! naMQ AA. H04CHMAN )ACK A. UFGLM pMN R. awndo SNIDFA CITY OF LODI CITY HALL. 221 WEST PINE MM P.Q KA 3006 L001. CAUFORMA 95241.}410 (" 334-5634 rix UM 333-� May 8, 1942 SUBJECT: Lodi Avenue Improvements - California Traction Company Involvement TMONIAS A. PETERSON Cky Ma"W ALKI K REiM041E Gey Owk BOB MtNATT City Anoway Enclosed is a copy of background information on an item that will be discussed at the City Council meeting on Wednesday, 1VIj 20, 1992, at 7:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in the City Council Chamber, Carnegie Forum. 305 West Pine Street. You are *Plcome to attend. If you wish to commnicate with the City Council, please contact Alice Reimche, City Clerk. at (209) 333-6702. If you have any questions about the item, please call Richard Prima or me at (209) 333-6706. ack . Ronsko Works Director JLR/lm Enclosure cc: City Clerk LL00I AYE . NCC/ TXTW . 02M